Get to Know Ian Noble, Our New Arts Director!

Ian Noble came to us from New York City-based Metropolitan Entertainment where he oversaw all of the company’s live performance activity since 2003. The company produces a wide range of events across the U.S. and Canada in venues ranging from clubs to theaters, amphitheaters, and arenas. Mr. Noble, who hails from Vancouver, BC, began his career in the live entertainment business in 1989. Prior to joining Metropolitan, he worked as a Talent Buyer for some of North America’s largest concert promoting companies including Delsener Slater Enterprises in New York, Concert Productions International (CPI) in Toronto, and Perryscope Concert Productions in Vancouver. Over the years, Mr. Noble has presented a who’s who of top tier artists including Pearl Jam, Radiohead, David Bowie, the Dave Matthews Band, Simon and Garfunkel, Eric Clapton, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and countless others.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Ian to the CPF family,” said City Parks Foundation President Alison Tocci. “His experience in presenting performing arts will be invaluable to the organization as we continue to engage new audiences throughout the city through our innovative programs. Ian brings a fresh new perspective to the table, and we are excited to be working with him.”

The Arts & Cultural Programs Department produces and presents 1,200 performances each year, making City Parks Foundation one of the largest arts organizations in New York City. Its programs include: SummerStage, SummerStage Kids, the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre and the traveling PuppetMobile. Mr. Noble will supervise all programming for CPF’s Arts Department, including the 30th Anniversary season of SummerStage in 2015.

To get to know Ian a little better, we asked him a few questions about his new position.

What drew you to City Parks Foundation? What most excites you about it?

I thought working for CPF would be an interesting challenge in that it draws on my experience as a presenter of live entertainment but with a new twist – it is a non-profit organization. I am most excited about two things: the first will be doing shows at SummerStage in Central Park, which I know and love; and the second will be bringing shows to parks in the outer boroughs, places I don’t know – but will hopefully also come to love.

You’ve worked for a number of entertainment companies, was the move to a non-profit organization a conscious decision?

Moving to a non-profit organization was not a conscious decision specifically, but I am always looking to expand my skill set and this was a great opportunity to do that.

Do you think the programming dynamic changes working for a non-profit organization vs an entertainment company?

It will be different in that most of the shows CPF present are free and that is something I have never been involved with. While that is a big difference from a ticketed show, the ultimate goal is still the same: to present great talent in the best possible setting.

Favorite SummerStage show that you’ve attended?

This is sort of obscure but I remember really enjoying Roni Size and Reprazent at SummerStage in the late 1990s. They were the hottest band around for a brief moment and it was the place to be in New York that night.